Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 04/02) - The Department of Public Works recently sent Nunavut gas samples to England for testing. The results, due back early next week, should clear up questions about gas quality in the territory.

Snowmobile owners, especially hunters, report their machines regularly break down. Mechanics believe bad gas is responsible for a brownish-yellow buildup that causes, among other problems, engine pistons to break.

Public Works checked the gas's octane levels, and the results came back acceptable. But complaints persisted, and the department sent samples to England for more tests.

MLAs bombarded Public Works Minister Peter Kattuk with questions about bad gas this week. He said the tests will answer questions and hinted the problem could be snowmobiles. He said dealerships won't agree to have the machines tested.

A mechanic at Yamaha snowmobile dealership in Iqaluit refused to cover a part under warranty this week. "It's not the company's fault," said Marco Blanchette. "I know by looking at the engine."

At Sikitu Sales and Services Ltd., a dealership in Iqaluit that sells Polaris machines, technician Eddie Keel said Polaris is doing its own gas tests. So far, Polaris is covering repairs under warranty. However, the company asked Sikitu to send broken parts back so the company can take a better look itself.

"We have more and more (broken machines) each day," said Keel. "If the gas is fine, why did they send it to England?"

Chris West, manager of retail operations at Qikiqtaalluk Corporation (owner of Baffin Gas Bar Ltd.) said the machines breaking down are all new models.

But mechanics claim some old machines are also affected.